Any Saturday or Wednesday that falls after Amavasya or new moon day in month of Magha and before Basant Panchami (late January or early February) is chosen for the Padma Besha in Puri Jagannath Temple.
Padma Besha is adorned during the ‘Bada Singhara’ ritual at night and the deities remain with the Besha throughout the night. This Besha takes place to perpetuate the legendary memory of a devotee, who had brought the lotus flowers from a very long distance to decorate Bhagavan Shree Jagannath.
The big petals of lotus adorn the faces of the deities in the shape of a disc. Shree Balabhadra and Shree Jagannatha hold lotus buds in their hands. Three triangular crowns of the deities made up of lace (crepe) and cloths are decorated with innumerable lotus flowers. Now-a-days flowers made of lace are used instead of natural flowers.
It is interesting to note that four swans are projected in this Besha and are seen with the lotus stalks. Perhaps the addition of the swans with the lotus stalks has been made, so that the Besha would appear more lively.
As per tradition the Besha materials are being provided by the Bada Chata Matha. The Mutt also offers Khiri (porridge) which is called Padma Besha Khiri and is being distributed among the Sevakas, employees of the temple and disciples of the Mutt on the following day.